Moodscope is our common factor. We all use Moodscope to help get through whatever our issues are. I have written about my own issues; in the last 18 months, my life partner of 47 years died at 8pm on same day as my best friend, Angela, died at 8am. Then to compound it, on October 15th last year, my only sister died by suicide. Shortly after the funeral for my sister, my brother decided it was time to tell me some ‘home truths’ focussing heavily on what he perceived as my shortcomings, my greed and my lack of both empathy and compassion. My response was to tell him he was no longer welcome in my home. 

My mental health has crumbled under this onslaught. Seeking medical help in early 2025, my needs were seen to be those of a desperate person, likely suicidal, and the Health Centre reacted by sending for an ambulance to take me to a ‘secure place of safety’ where my ‘needs could be assessed.’ It was only because the ambulance service was so overwhelmed that I avoided being incarcerated!

And yet; despite all that, I am still here. And despite everything and everyone, We are all still here. There is a very famous [in Wales] song ‘Yma o hyd’  here is a link:    

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_pjG1Tzx74

It is sung by a woman called Bronwen, in Welsh, with the Welsh and the English translation below. 

It is a very emotional song. And although it states the obvious - ‘we are still here’ – it is a perfect example of how to ‘focus on now.’

Now I am in my 70s, I am much more able to focus on now. As a younger woman, in my 40s, I attempted to teach myself to ‘be in the now’ by teaching myself to meditate. I started small – 10 minutes a day. My goal was to simply be with a small candle and to focus on being present in the moment. So simple; I am not exaggerating in the slightest when I tell you it took me over 5 years to learn how to sit still for 10 minutes. 

The discipline imposed on myself then is now paying dividends. I can ‘focus on now’ and I can plan for the future. And I can look back at my life and I can see it painfully clearly. And truly, I regret nothing, as the amazing Edith Piaf sang so beautifully – ‘Non, Je ne regrette rien’ 

So much has been written about how to focus on now, that my own stumbling interpretations seem ineffectual beside the great ones. I do really try to focus on the little things, because they are tangible and I can see immediately if I have rinsed the coffee pot or not. Rinsed, indicates my positive attitude is in place for the day; un-rinsed….well, best stay out of my way!

I can’t make world peace happen, but I can keep my own peace by focussing on now.

CMM

A Moodscope member